Contact Lenses
Contact Lens Care and Hygiene
Safe lens wear comes down to a short list: wash and dry hands first, never let lenses touch water, use fresh solution every time, replace the case every three months, and never wear a lens in an eye that hurts.
In short
Never water. Fresh solution. New case every three months. Stop if it hurts.
Almost every serious contact lens complication traces back to a small number of avoidable behaviours. The rules below are short, and following them properly removes most of the risk of lens wear.
The water rule is the one that matters most and is broken most often. Acanthamoeba, a microorganism found in tap water, swimming pools and hot tubs, causes a corneal infection that is extremely painful and very difficult to treat. Lenses and water should never meet, and that includes rinsing a case under the tap.
What to expect
- Hands first
- Wash with soap and dry on a lint free towel before touching lenses. Wet hands transfer waterborne organisms directly.
- Never water
- No tap water, no bottled water, no showering, swimming or hot tubs in lenses. Rinse cases with solution, never water.
- Fresh solution every time
- Empty the case, rinse with solution, air dry face down, refill with fresh solution. Never top up.
- Replace the case
- Every three months at the latest. Cases develop biofilm that solution cannot clear.
- Respect the replacement schedule
- A monthly lens worn for six weeks is a different and more hazardous object than a monthly lens worn for four.
- Never wear a lens in a sore eye
- Pain, redness, light sensitivity or blurred vision means remove the lens and call the office.
Questions and answers
Can I use saline instead of solution?
No. Saline rinses but does not disinfect. Multipurpose solution or a peroxide system is needed to kill organisms on the lens.
What if I run out of solution?
Do not improvise with water or saliva. Store lenses dry in a clean case and use glasses until you can buy solution, or call the office.
How do I know if I have an infection?
Pain, persistent redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or blurred vision that does not clear when the lens comes out. Remove the lenses, keep them, and contact the office promptly.
Can I swim in my contacts?
No. Water carries organisms that cause severe corneal infection, and lenses trap them against the eye. Prescription goggles or Ortho-K are the sensible alternatives for swimmers.
Talk to someone about contact lens care and hygiene
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.